Electrical translating apparatus



May 23, 1933. P. H. DOWLING ELECTRICAL TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l G INVENTORZ Fag. 5. P. H, Dow/n57, 'Qa-W y 1933- P. H. DOWLING 10,381

ELECTRICAL TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Prmalloy Input Input .9 INVENTOR;

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Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orr ca PHILIP B. BOWLING, OF SWIBSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOB 10 m UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL OOIPANY, 0F SWISBVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A, GDR'POBATION ELECTRICAL TKANSLA'I'ING APPARATUS Application fled December 26, 1988. Serial Io. 416,355.

My invention relates to electrical translating a paratus, and particularly to apparatus o the type comprising an mput circuit which is at tlmes supplied with current and an output circuit in which the flow of current is controlled in accordance with the current supplied to the input circuit.

I will describe several forms of electrical translating apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of translating apparatus embod 'ng my invention as ap lied to the contro of a trackway signal. igs. 2 and 3 are views showing modified forms of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 and also embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a view showing still another form of translating apparatus e mbodying my invention as applied to the control of governing means on a train in accordance with trafiic conditions in the trackway. Fig. 5 is a view showing still another form of translating apparatus embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character T designates a transformer, which as here shown, comprises two cores A and B of magnetizable material. Core A is of the well known shell type, and comprises three legs 1, 2 and 3 connected in parallel to form two magnetic paths with the leg 2 forming a bridging member common to both paths. Alternating flux is supplied to the transformer T by a primary which as here shown comprises two windings 4 and 4 connected in parallel and linking the core A on opposite sides of the bridging member 2 in such manner that the fluxes created by current in windings 4 and 4" produce substantially no flux in member 2. Alternating current is supplied to the windings 4 and .4 from any suitable source of alternating current, here shown as a generator G. Core B also links windings 4 and 4 in such manner that the fluxes created in core B by currents in windings 4 and 4 are additive. The core B also.

carries a secondary or output winding 6 which may supply ener -to any suitable output circuit. As here s own the winding 6 is connected with a lamp 7.

For the purpose of controlling the electromotive force induced in winding 6, an in ut windin 8 is located on the bridging mem r or mid 1e leg 2 of core A and current is at times su plied to this winding to vary the permeabllity of core A. It is preferable,

. though not essential, to supply the windlng 8 with unidirectional current and if the source of controlling current delivers alternating current, a rectifier K may be included in circuit with winding 8.

The parts are so adjusted that when a predetermined value of the current supplied to winding 8, (usually when this current is zero), a very small current is drawn by the device 7 supplied from the output circuit. This small current is insufiicient to operate device 7 but is effective to force the major portion of the total alternating flux created by windings 4 and 4 into the core 1, where this flux circulates in'legs 1 and 3, without flowing through the bridging member or middle leg 2. When current is supplied to winding 8, however, there is created, in the middle leg 2, magnetic flux which decreases the permeability of core A to flux due to current flowing through windings 4 and 4. The result is that an increased proportion of the flux from windings 4 and 4" is forced to flow throu h core B, and the electromotive force in need in windin 6 is correspondingly increased to a va ue which is sufiicient to operate the device 7. With the arts constructed as illustrated in the drawlngs, a comparatively small change in current supplied to winding 8 will produce a comparativel large change in the current supplied to evice 7 by. winding 6.

Although the apparatus may be utilized to control the supply of current to any form of output load, I have shown it controlling a signal lamp in a railway signaling system. Thus E--F is a section of railway track which is normally supplied with current from a track transformer H connected across the rail adjacent one end of-the section. The input winding 8 of transformer T is connected, through the rectifier K across the rails adjacent the other end of the section. The lamp 7 controlled by the out ut winding 6 may then indicate procee trafiic conditions in section E-F. It will be lain that when section EF is unoccupied current is an plied to the winding 8, and lam 7 is lighte If section EF is occupied y a train, however, current is shunted away from winding 8 and lamp 7 is then extinguished.

It should be pointed out that a lamp 7 of the usual tungsten filament type is peculiarly adapted for co-operation with apparatus embodying m invention. In this connection, it shoul be stated first that the total flux delivered by windings 4 and 4 is substantially constant. When no current is being supplied to winding 8, under which conditions, lamp 7 is extin ished, the resistance of this lamp is relative y small, so that windilg 6 is substantially short-circuited. The e ect of the short-circuited winding 6 is to force most of the flux from windings 4 and 4 throu h core A, as explained hereinbefore. VVien current is supplied to winding 8, to light lamp 7, however, the increase in resistance of lamp 7 tends to increase the ratio between the flux in core B and the total flux delivered by windings 4 and 4. It follows therefore that the temperature coefiicient of resistance of tungsten lam filaments of the usual type when supplie with energy. from the output winding 6 of apparatus embodying my invention assists in maintaining at a high value a ratio between the power expended in the lamp when winding 8 is energized and that expended in the lamp when t is winding is de-ener 'zed.

Referring now to Fig. 2, in the orm here shown, the parts are essentially the same as in Fig. 1, but their physical arrangement is somewhat different. Cores A and B are here arranged side by side in parallel planes, the

windings 4 and 4' embracing legs 1 and 3 of core A, and also the adjacent le of core B. Furthermore, the seconda o the transformer T is made in two win in 6 and 6 which are located at spaced points on the core B. The two windings 6 and 6 are contransformer T is similar to that shown in" Fig. 1, except that a short-circuited winding or conducting ferrule 5 surrounds the bridging member 2 of core A for the purpose of preventin the flow of alternating flux through t e input winding 8. The transformer also comprises a third magnetizable core 10 of smaller cross-sectional area than either cores A or B. The core 10 is a shell type core similar to core A and links the primary windings 4 and 4 in the same manner as core A.

With this arrangement, if winding 8 is supplied with current from a source of direct current, it is impossible to light lamp 7 excepting when current is supplied to winding 8. When the input windlng 8 contains a rectifying device such as K, if any failure occurs in a core or a coil of the transformer T which tends to send alternating flux through winding 8, the induced electromotive force would be rectified, and would create in the core A, a unidirectional flux which would operate to change the permeability of this core in exactly the same way as controlling current supplied to the input winding. In order to prevent this, I have provided the ferrule 5 on le 2 of core A, and it will be seen that shou d any failure occur which would normally tend to'cause alternating flux to thread the winding 8, this ferrule 5 will choke out such flux to prevent improper operation of lamp 7. The core 10 assists in this protection, and is particular- 1y valuable under the most severe failure, that is, when one of the windings 4 or 4 becomes completely short-circuitcd and also disconnected from the rimary coil. Should this occur, all of the ux paths except onehalf of core 10 would carry short-circuited coils and the core 10, under these conditions, would assist in by-passin flux away from core B, and would there ore prevent energization of lamp 7, unless current were supplied to winding 8.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the transformer T, as here shown, comprises two cores A and B, similar to those shown in Fig. 1. Core A is so disposed, however, that an end leg 3 of the core is adjacent the core B, and a single primary winding 4, supplied with alternating current from generator G, embraces this end leg and a portion of the core B. Core B carries the output winding 6 as -in the revious views. Alternating flux from win ing 4 has two aths through core A, one through the mid 1e leg 2, and the other through the outer leg 1. I prefer to provide a conducting sleeve 5 on the middle leg 2 which carries the input winding 8, to prevent the passage of alternating current through this winding 8 as explained in connection with Fi 3. If desired, the leg 2 may be made 0 some solid material of high permeability and low resistivity to assist in holding to a low value the amount .of alternating flux which threads this leg,

without materially affecting the reluctance of this leg to the unidirectional flux created trol the supply of current to an tion with the alternating current winding 4,

there is always an open flux path throu h the leg 1 in parallel with that through t e input winding 8. The worst condition of alternating flux through winding 8, is, therefore, the normal 0 rating condition. If the apparatus is a justed to prevent undesirable operation, due to the amount of alternating flux which normally threads leg 2, it is obvious that no coil failure can increase this amount of flux to cause improper operaation of the device connected with the output circuit.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 4 may conload, but as ere shown, is part 0 a system of automatic train control. In systems of this type, alternating train controlling current is ordinarily supplied to the rails ad jacent the exit end of each section when traffic conditions in advance are safe. As shown in the drawing, section EF is supplied with alternating current from transformer H when the track relay R next in advance is energized. A train indicated diagrammatically at W is provided with a receiver 11 located in inductive relation with the track rails and arranged to have induced therein, an electromotive force in accordance with train controlling current flowing in thetrack rails. The receiver 11 is connected through a filter C and rectifier K with the input winding 8 of transformer T. The output winding 6 of transformer T is connected through another rectifier K with a relay Q. When section EF is supplied with train controlling current, a corresponding current is supplied to winding 8 of transformer T and sufiicient current is then supplied to'relay Q from winding 6 to en ergize the relay. The relay Q, may control governing means of any suitable type, but as here shown, when relay Q, is energized, current is supplied from battery 15, over front contact 16 of the relay to a lamp 17. If the supply of train controlling current is for any reason interrupted, windin 8 becomes de-energized and relay Q is t en released to deenergize lamp 17 and light lamp 18.

In systems of the type described the amount of energy available in the receiver 11 is comparatively small and in order to obtain a large change in the permeability of core A of transformer T in response to small changes in current in a winding 8, it may be desirable, under some conditions, to construct the core A of permalloy or of some suitable other material having the characteristic of exhibiting large variations in its permeability in response to comparatively small changes in the density of the flux through the material.

It may also be desirable to introduce another stage or stages of amplification between the receiver 11 and the the relay Q. Thus the output winding 6 of transformer T, instead of feeding relay Q, directly, might suppl energy to the primary of a second. trans ormer similar to that here shown, and the output winding of which would in turn supply the relay Q.

In the form of the transformer comprises three magnetizable cores of the shell type and each having three legs connected in parallel. The primary winding 4 embraces a middle leg of the core B' and an end leg of each of the cores A and A The secondary or output winding 6 is located on the middle leg of core B and is connected with the load 7. One input winding 8 is located onthe middle leg of each of the two cores A and A and these middle legs are also provided with conducting sleeves 5 to prevent the passage of alternating flux from winding 4 through the input windin 8. When no current is supplied tothe windings 8, sufficient flux is by-passed through cores A and A away from the winding 6 so that load 7 is de-energized. If current is supplied only to windin 8, as winding 8 on core A the permeability of the corresponding core is decreased and the reluctance of that core is increased, but flux from the winding 4 can still thread the other core A without passing through the output winding 6. If both of the windings 8 are energized, however, the permeabilities of both cores A and A are decreased and flux from the winding 4 is then obliged to pass through core B and winding 6. The load 7 may be adjusted to become energized when and onl when the windings 8 are both supplied with current.

One advantage possessed b the a paratus shown in Fig. 5 is that it permits the control of a load in such manner that the load is energized only when two wholly independent circuits are energized. It should be noted in this connection that this result.

can not be obtained by the use of two independent in ut windings on a single core A, such as is s own in Fig. 4.

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of electric translating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the-spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

gpparatus shown in Fig. 5,

.said first winding, a second winding on said member, a second magnetizablev bridgin core lin 11 said first winding, a third winding on said second core, and means for at times supplying current to said second winding to vary the electromotive force induced in saidthird winding.

2. A transformer comprising a first mag netizable core having two magnetic paths including a brid ing member in common, a first winding lin ing one of said paths and supplied with periodically varying current, a second winding for supplying energy to an output circuit, a third magnetic path linking said first and second windings, and a third winding located on said bridging member and operating when supplied with current to vary the coupling between said first and second windings.

3. A transformer comprising a first magnetizable core having two magnetic paths including a bridging member in common, a first winding linking one of said paths and supplied with periodically varying current, a second windingfor supplying energy to an output circuit, a third magnetic path linking said first and second windings, and a third winding located on said bridging member and arranged when supplied with current to vary the permeability of said first core to flux resulting from current in said first winding.

4. A transformer comprising a first magnetizable core having two magnetic paths includin a bridging member in common, a source 0 periodically varying current, a first winding connected with said source and linking one said path in such manner that flux created thereby threads a portion of said core but not said bridging member, a second magnetizable core linking said first winding, a second winding on said second core, a current consuming device connected with said second winding, and a third winding on said bridging member arranged when supplied with current to reduce the amount of flux from said first winding which is forced to traversesaid first core by the current in said second winding.

5. In combination, a first magnetizable core comprising two magnetic paths having a bridging member in-common, a first winding linking one of said paths, means for supplying periodically varying current to said rst winding, a second magnetizable core linkin said first winding, a second winding on sai second core, a device connected across said second winding and having the propervariations in the electromotive force ap lied thereto, a third winding on said bri ging member, and means for at times supplying current to said third winding to vary the permeability of said first core to flux from said first winding.

6. In combination, a first ma etizable' core comprising two magnetic pat s havin a brid 'ng member in common, a first win ing li ing one of said paths, means'for supplying periodically varying current to said rst winding, a second magnetizable core linking said first winding, a second windin .on said second core, a device connecte across said second winding and having the property of increasing its resistance in response to increases in the electromotive force applied thereto, a third winding on said brid ing member, and means for at times suppdying current to said third winding to increase the proportion of flux from said first winding which threads said second core.

7. In combination, a first magnetizable core comprising two magnetic paths having a brid 'ng member in common, a first winding lin ing one of said paths, means for supplying periodically varying current to said first winding, a second winding on said brid in member, a second magnetizable core linfiing said first winding, a third winding on said second core, and means for at times supplying unidirectional current to said second winding to decrease thepermeability of said first core.

8. n combination, a first magnetizable core comprising two magnetic paths having a bridging member in common, two primary windings inking said two paths respectively, means for supplying alternating current to said two primary windings in parallel in such manner that the resultant flux in said bridging member is substantially zero, a second core linking both said primary windings in such manner that the fluxes created thereby are additive in said second core, a third winding on said second core for supplying ener y to an output circuit, and a fourth win in on said bridging member and adapted w en supplied with current to modify the electromotive force induced in said third windin 9. In combination, a magnetizable core comprising two magnetic paths having a brid ing member in common, a primary win ing supplied with periodically varying 1 current and linking one said path, means for preventing the flow of varying flux through said bridging member, a second windin inductively related with said mary winding, a third winding on said bridging member, and means for at times supplying current to said third winding to vary the electromotive force induced in said second winding.

\ 10. In combination, a magnetizable core iii) aeiaesr comprising three legs connected in parallel, a first winding supplied with periodically varying current for supplying 'fiux to one of said legs, means for preventing flux from said first winding from flowing through another one of said legs, a second winding on said other leg, a third winding inductively ternating current, a second winding inductively related with said first winding for supplying energy to an output circuit, a third winding on said bridging member, and means for at times supplying unidirectional current to said third winding.

12. In combination, a magnetizable core comprising two magnetic paths havin a bridging member in common, a first win mg linking one said path and supplied with alternating current, a second windin inductively related with said first winding for supplying energy to an ,output circuit, a short-circuited windin on said bridging member, a fourth winding on said bridging member, and means for at times supplying unidirectional current to said fourth wind- I3. In combination, a first magnetizable core comprising two magentic paths having a bridging member in common, two primary windings linking said two paths respectively, means for supplying alternating current to said two primary windings in parallel in such manner that the resultant flux in said bridging member is substantially zero, a second core linking both said primary windings in such manner that'the fluxes created thereby are additive in said second core, a third winding on said second core for supplying energy to an output circuit, a fourth winding on said bridgmg member means for supplying current to said fourth winding to control the electromotive force induced in said third winding, and a third ma etizable core having two magnetic pat s linking said two primary windings respectively.

14. A transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding in inductive relation with said primary, a core of permalloy for shunting a portion of the flux from said primary winding away from said secondary winding, and a winding associated with said core and arranged when supplied with current to vary the permeability of said core.

15. In combination, a magnetizable core comprising three legs connected in parallel, a first winding supplied with periodically varying current for supplying flux to one of said legs, a sleeve of conducting material on another one of said legs, a second winding on said other leg, a third winding inductively related with said first winding, and means for at times supplying current to said second winding.

16. In combination, a magnetizable core comprising three legs connected in parallel, a first winding'located on one said leg and supplied with periodically varying current, means for preventing flux from said first winding from flowing through another one of said legs, a second winding on said other leg, a second magnetizable core linking said first winding, 9. third winding on said second core, and an electro-responsive device connected with said third winding and arranged to be energized when and only when current 1s supplied to said second winding.

17. In combination, two magnetizable cores each havin three legs connected in parallel, a first winding embracing the middle leg of one core and an end leg of the other core and supplied with alternating current, a second winding located on the middle leg of said one core for supplying energy to an output circuit, a third wlnding on the middle leg of said other core, and means for at times supplying current to said third winding to vary the permeability of said other core.

18. In combination, three magnetizable cores each having three legs connected in parallel, a first winding supplied with alternatin current and embracing the middle leg 0 a first one of said cores and an end leg of each of the other two cores, two input windings one located on the middle 1c of each of said other two cores, an output winding located on the middle leg of said one core, and a current consumin device con nected with said out ut winding and arranged to be energize when and only when current is supplied to both said input windings.

19. In combination, a primary winding and a secondary winding inductivel related therewith, and two additional windmgs separately supplied with current and operating toseparately produce additive variations in the coupling between said primary and sec ondary windings.

20. In combination with two windings located in inductive relation, two cores each linking at least one of said windings, and means for separately varying the reluctances of said two cores to produce additive variations in the coupling between said two windings.

21. In combination with two windings located in inductive relation, a source of periodicaly varying current connected with one said windin a load receiving energy from the other winding, two ma etizable cores each linking at least one 0 said windings,

and means for separately vying the re-- luctances of said cores to pr uce additive yarations in the current supplied'to said 6 22. In combination, primary and second ary windings in inductive relation, means for supplying such primary winding with periodically varying current, two magnetizable cores each linking at least one of said 10 windings, a third winding for controll' the reluctance of one core in accordance wit the current su plied thereto,-a fourth winding for contro ling the reluctance of the remaining core in accordance with the current ll supplied thereto, and a load connected with sai secondary winding and arran to be energized when and only. when th said third and fourth windings are supplied with currents of predetermined values.

26 23. In combination with a primary winding sup lied with periodically varying current, a rst core linking said primary winding, a secondary winding on said first core, two other cores each linking said primary a8 winding but not said secondary winding,

means for independently-varying the reluctances of said two other cores, and a load receivin energy from said secondary winding.

24. 11 com ination with a primary win 'ao ing sup lied with periodically varying current, a rst core linking said primary winding, a secondary winding on said first core,

two other cores each linking said primary winding but not said secondary windin 35 two in ut windings one located on each 0 said ot er cores and each operating to vary the reluctance of the associated core in response to the current sup lied thereto, and a load receiving energy 0m said second- 46 ary winding.

25. In combination, a winding supplied with periodic current, two magnetizable cores each linking said winding, and means for independently varyin the reluctances of '48 said two cores to cause in ependent additive variations in the effective impedance of said winding.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

PHILIP H. DOKNLING. 

